Nebraska State Directors Column - May 2006
FROM THE STATE DIRECTORS . . .
BOB & LYNDA WILKINSON
May 2006
The April showers have brought out the May flowers and we are ready to ride. As we get those bikes out, don’t forget to do your pre-ride check (T-CLOCK). Check the TIRES, CONTROLS, LIGHTS, OIL, CHASSIS, AND KICKSTAND. If you need more information about the T-CLOCK inspection, check with your chapter safety director or go to http://www.micapeak.com/info/T-CLOCK.html for full details. Speaking of safety, have you had the opportunity to make arrangements to have the Safety Proclamation that was posted in last months column read by your mayor or promoted by the local media? This is a great way to get motorists to remember that “we” are out there. If you need a copy of the proclamation, give us a call and we’ll be glad to share. Also, have you had the opportunity to take the Rider Level 1 Knowledge test? There is one for the rider, co-rider, and even one for trikes. Complete this test, and your chapter has reached another step in the Chapter Olympics. Again, talk to your chapter director, riding education director, or us, and get started on your Rider’s Education.
As we noted during our last column, we have done a little research on motorcycle statistical data in Nebraska. From the www.nebraskatransportation.org, we found that the upward trend in Nebraska motorcycle crashes rose to 413, an increase of 12 crashes over 2003. This is the highest number of motorcycle crashes in the last ten years. There was an increase in fatal motorcycle crashes, from 13 in 2003 to 20 in 2004. The increase in motorcycle crashes is most likely related to the growing number of motorcycles registered in Nebraska. After a long period of decline, motorcycle registrations have risen significantly in the last few years. With gas prices increasing on a daily, our bet is that there will be more and more motorcycles taking to the highways. In 1995, there were 18,696 motorcycle registered, compared to 32,553 in 2004. This brings things more into perspective. When calculating the percentage of crashes to registered motorcycles, the data indicates that the rate was 1.67% in 1995 compared to 1.26% in 2004. Could one attribute this decline to more and better rider education classes? Safer drivers? Helmet laws? The number of vehicles in each body style group which were involved in crashes is as follows: autos – 56.0%; light trucks – 39.4%; heavy trucks – 3.4%; and Other – 1.3%. (Other is defined as motorcycles .7%; buses .3%; motor homes .1%; farm equipment .1%, and all others .1%.) So don’t become a motorcycle statistics – be careful out there!
You can tell it’s beginning to look and feel like riding weather. Chapters are gearing up for their weekly dinner rides. Please check out each chapter’s events at www.gwtanebraska.com. There are chapter meetings and rides to partake in. Don’t be bashful, get in the groove and accompany your chapter or another chapter on a ride. This is the best way to spread that golden opportunity of Destination Friendship (and another step in the Chapter Olympics).
To get things started this riding season, we will be joining Chapter G on their dinner run on April 28th. The Omaha bunch will meet at the Millard K-Mart, with kickstands up at 6PM, and then to the “Round the Bend Steakhouse” at 30801 E Park Hwy, South Bend, NE. Chapter Director, Rick Hinrichs says there is plenty of room for everyone to join us – so hope to see you on Friday, April 28th! We will be joining Chapter V on Sunday, May 7th for their Bike Show at the McCook Walmart Parking Lot and hope that you can join us for that, too. Then there is the Chapter E annual South Dakota Steak Run to Hill City the 12th-14th. That’s always a lot of fun. There is still time to join Chapter E for this fabulous ride. Just contact the Chapter Directors, Lee & Deb Ralston.
Just a couple of changes in the riding schedule to take note of. Chapter E will not be going to Seneca on the 30th because the café will not be opened that day. Also, Chapter W has changed their Bike Show at the Champion Museum from the 7th of May to the 1st Sunday in June from 1:30-4PM. Linda Statz, Chapter Director, would be appreciative of anyone that would like to join them.
Did anyone get to attend the April 22nd UP Motorcycle Safety Awareness “Show and Shine” at the Harriman Dispatching Center in Omaha? We would be interested in hearing what they had to offer. Unfortunately, we were unable to attend because we had committed to attending the granddaughters fast pitch softball tournament in McCook. While we truly enjoyed watching them play, we did not enjoy the 50 mph wind gusts, blowing dirt, and sunburns! Sounds like we’re in for another round of softball tournaments this coming weekend.
Grand Tour (Ten Teeny Tiny Towns in Ten Counties)? Region C? Gold Rush? Rally in the Valley? Camp Wing Tyme? Do these sound like events that you might be attending? If so, you need to get your registrations in as soon as possible. The hosts of these parties would appreciate knowing if you are coming. Help them plan a successful event. Don’t pass up these opportunities to get out and explore the locale while at the same time participating in events with fellow motorcycle enthusiasts. (Another way to meet one of the Chapter Olympic steps) We are still entertaining ideas to show the Nebraska spirit at Gold Rush. You can e-mail those to us anytime, soon.
RAFFLE TICKETS! Have you sold your allotment yet? Want to reach another level in the Olympics? Have each member sell a minimum of 10 tickets. Get out there and sell, sell, sell. Just as important, get those tickets back in. This is such a valuable tool to augment the bottom line. Not only for National, but as it trickles down to the Region, State, and Chapter. States in the Region C area will be receiving their rebates at the Region C Rally.
If you are ever in the neighborhood, please contact us and we’ll make an effort to get together. We were fortunate to meet up with Randy Nelson and Jen Lipe of Omaha this weekend. They had rode to Holyoke to pick up their newly acquired bunkhouse camper and stayed overnight at Lake Maloney. We got to sit with them during their supper and had breakfast with them before they headed east. It was good to hear their positive attitude about GWTA and of course it’s always good to enjoy that GWTA friendship.
In closing, we wish each of you a safe riding season and a season that is full of fun, friendship, and family. We look forward to seeing our GWTA friends soon. Be careful and be safe!
So until next time, we’ll see ya on the road . . .
Bob & Lynda Wilkinson
GWTA Nebraska State Directors